Heightened tension has gripped the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State as leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups warned that elections may not hold in the area during the 2027 general polls if the Independent National Electoral Commission fails to release and implement the report on fresh ward delineation.
The warning was issued on Tuesday at a press conference in Warri South Local Government Area, where the stakeholders, in a joint address read by Olorogun Victor Okumagba, accused the electoral body of prolonged delay in acting on the outcome of the delineation exercise.
The statement was endorsed by several prominent leaders, including Dr Joel Bisina, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Rev Samuel Ako, Chief Emmanuel Sekondi, and others.
The groups recalled that the delineation exercise was conducted in line with a Supreme Court judgment delivered in Suit No. SC/413/2006, but lamented that despite completing the technical process, INEC had yet to make the report public or enforce its recommendations.
They argued that the delay had continued to deny indigenous communities equitable political representation, describing the situation as unjust and unacceptable.
Okumagba said the position of the groups should not be interpreted as a threat but a consequence of what he termed sustained neglect of lawful demands.
He stated that the people had explored all legal avenues, including securing a Supreme Court ruling, stressing that failure by INEC to act could compel them to resist the conduct of elections in the constituency.
The leaders further accused the commission of bias and administrative failure, alleging that political interference and ethnic considerations were responsible for the delay in implementing the delineation report.
They warned that unresolved electoral and territorial disputes had historically triggered unrest in the Warri axis and cautioned that a repeat could occur if urgent steps were not taken.
Calling for immediate intervention, the stakeholders urged INEC to release and operationalise the report without further delay to avert a potential crisis ahead of the 2027 elections.
During the briefing, maps reportedly obtained from the commission’s spatial department were displayed to support claims that the delineation exercise had been concluded.
Women and youth representatives from the Ijaw and Urhobo communities also lent their voices to the demand, warning that continued inaction could threaten the fragile peace in the area.
The development is expected to pose a significant test for the electoral body as preparations gradually build towards the next general elections, with observers noting that the situation could escalate into a major political dispute if left unresolved.
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